SUV goes in the river
<p>A Columbia Falls volunteer fireman stands next to an SUV that was dragged out of the Flathead River onto River Road on May 2. Nobody was hurt in the accident.</p>
Nobody was seriously hurt May 2 when a 2000 Ford Explorer with Tennessee plates went off River Road near the U.S. 2 bridge and down into the Flathead River.
According to Montana Highway Patrol trooper David Mills, a man in his 30s turned south on River Road and missed the second 90-degree turn. Mills said the man, who was familiar with the area, was looking down at paperwork or his cell phone and not the road.
The vehicle sideswiped a tree and then plummeted about 20 feet down into the Flathead River, which was running high, muddy and fast at the time. The SUV floated several hundred feet along the east bank before stopping in an eddy.
The driver, who was alone and wearing a seat belt, managed to break out a window and swim to shore. He suffered from hypothermia after spending time in the cold water and was transported to North Valley Hospital.
Dispatchers received a call about 12:51 p.m. Divers from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office were joined by members of North Valley Search and Rescue in two boats to get the vehicle out of the river.
A diver said they had difficulty getting the tow truck’s cable hooked to the vehicle because of the swift water and poor visibility. They knocked out two windows and strung the cable through the vehicle to get it to shore, where they reattached the cable to the frame.
Crews from Badrock Fire Department assisted Western Towing in dragging the vehicle up onto River Road.
The man, who was cited for careless driving, said he lost his wallet in the accident.